Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

My Last Love Story by Hotaru Imai

Chapter Three: Knowing You

After the introduction of Ruka's name, Natsume then proceeded on to getting down into details.

"This is Ruka Nogi; he's the same age as us but I call him sempai because he is my sempai in karate. I met him about 3 years ago while I was studying abroad in England." Natsume said.

We all nodded in acknowledgement of Ruka. His cerulean eyes skimmed over us; Mikan, then Anna, then Nonoko and lastly me.

He gave a smile to each of us, which plainly said that he was glad to have met us. What I did not mean to happen, or even to know would happen was that his eyes would linger for a moment longer on me than with the others.

I stared deep into his eyes, lost in thought. His eyes were like an ocean that pulled me in with its current and kept me out there with its depth.

"Nice to meet you all." He said.

"Oh, so you're Ruka-kun! Natsume has told me lots of stories about you!"

My idiotic best friend was back in her energetic mode. She was smiling while still linked with Natsume at the arm.

Ruka once again brought his attention to Mikan. "He told me about you too. Miss Mikan right?"

Mikan nods and leaves Natsume to go around introducing us to Ruka. I rolled my eyes; why am I even best friends with this girl?

"This is Anna." She said, peering out from behind Anna and then moving onto Nonoko. "While this is Nonoko"

I was about to excuse myself and walk away when Mikan grabbed me by the arm and grinned a wide one.

Oh, how more idiotic can this girl get?

"Last but not least, this is – "

She didn't finish. At that moment, Ruka had intervened and said something that caught me off guard.

"Hotaru Imai. I know, Mikan-san. She is my friend too afterall"

Along with my friends, my eyes widened.

"What are you on about, Nogi-san?" I said in a tone that meant it was not a question I had asked, but a statement waiting to be explained.

I may not be big and strong in other's eyes but in the comfort of this little group of friends, I was the coldest of all.

Ruka had put on a hurt expression. My chest constricted from looking at him. Why? Why has my head been in a muddle ever since he entered into the miserable thing that claims to be my life?

My face scrunched up from under the gaze and tears from goodness knows where was trying to fight out.

"I had thought we made acquaintances of ourselves only just before? Or do you have a short memory, Hotaru-chan?"

I did not know if I should smile or frown.

Smile, in response to his little joke about my memory. Frown, in response to the friendliness in which he put himself forward to me.

As my mind wandered off, a little part of my brain once again popped another choice: blush. Blush at the joke in which he made, blush at the friendliness in which he presented, blush at the honourific that he put behind my name.

I decided upon option D) none of the above.

I put on an even more impassive mask and said in a monotone voice. "I believe we only spoke a few sentences to each other, Nogi-san. And if you would all excuse me, I would like to go to the library before the bell rings."

And with that, I left the confused Ruka Nogi, my future lover, for the library: my only place of comfort.

My Last Love Story

I lay beside the lake as I stared up to the sky. It was after school already. I had managed to avoid the person who haunted my every thought that day, leaving introduction duties to the ever so 'eager' Natsume Hyuuga.

I took a sharp breath as I heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes behind me. Quickly, I leaned upon my elbow and swiveled my head around, ready to glare down my intruder.

A few moments past and I realised that it was not a human that had intruded my pondering. It was a white little rabbit.

I chuckled at my own displeasure. I got all worked up for a cute bunny.

I took out from my pocket a carrot that I had put there previously in the morning, intending to eat it at morning tea. Too engrossed in my book this morning, I totally spent all spare time reading.

As I used the carrot as a bait for my little friend, how would I know that beyond those trees was a blonde haired, blue eyed young lad, desperately searching for his lost pet bunny?

I laugh now at my own stupidity to luring a rabbit into my arms with a carrot. But at the time, I felt like I needed something warm near me.

Not just a fireplace, not just a heater: another living being on this Earth.

What I didn't know was that it was not the rabbit that I needed.

It was its owner:

Mister Ruka Nogi.

Oh wise old fates, what destiny have you branded on me?

Why did you bring us together when later you tear us apart?

I sit here now, thinking the same question over in my head time and time again.

Why?

My Last Love Story – Chapter End.

Author's Note: Review Reply Time!

Sitting in the Silence: Ahahas, and I am starting to love your reviews even more too, Kate-chan :D Of course Natsume is here. Who else could pull off that ego that all GA fanfics should have? And, I don't think I could make your heart jump a little bit for Rukaru in this chapter, but I promise I will in the next few yeah?

Lunarpelt of Waterclan: Thanks for enjoying my writing and reviewing every chapter! Your reviews are short but sweet. And it always makes me smile (:

Rukaru-romance(dot)passion: I know how you feel xD I do have two dots in my penname don't I? I'm glad you started writing again for your stories. Oh, before I forget, PLEASE UPDATE "THE MALEVOLENT BANE OF HER EXISTENCE" I TELL YOU :O I absolutely love that k3. (p.s, your reviews don't suck, very lovable if I may add)

Chapter Dedication: to Sitting in the Silence! For continuingly supporting this story from the beginning and for being the first one for the previous chapter :D

Aw, is anyone wondering what is wrong with Hotaru? I know I would be if I was to be reading this. I am planning to reveal the secret in two more chapters.

Please leave a review,

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